Scientists began running COVID-19 trials in January 2020, and on December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first emergency use authorization (EUA) to combat the disease.  The practice of medical guidelines and the use of CDC vaccines have been credited with suppressing infectious cases. Clinical trials have been conducted on vaccines designed to prevent Coronavirus infections. The safety of these vaccines has been proven, and they are closely supervised. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people can prevent spreading and being heavily affected by diseases by getting fully vaccinated. 

Covid vaccines are injected into the upper arm and release Messenger RNA into the individual, leaving the nucleus and going straight to the cytoplasm. Afterward, ribosomes read RNA and create amino acids, which are then used to make proteins. Translation starts spike proteins, which travel to the cell membrane, and keeps the human body alive. Cells then break down the injected mRNA instructions. The viruses such as Covid take advantage of this process by putting their genetic information into the body and using that information to create proteins that produce new viruses. 

Hence, vaccination with the covid vaccine is composed of genetic instructions. The code is not for the entire virus; instead, for a particular tiny part of it. Through injection, the human body gets a taste of what some viruses look like without suffering from any disease. By cultivating antibodies to detect it and triggering a response, we train the human body to detect the actual virus without being infected. This vaccine helps the human body form an adaptive immune response, which is the reason it works. The body is learning how to protect itself from infection before getting infected. 

The nation has received 346 million doses distributed, and 165 million individuals are fully vaccinated. Despite its effectiveness, only 50.2% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Many people are doubting it and are not trusting that it is safe. The major arguments against vaccinations are being formed by reading negative information online about vaccines, and the majority of the false accusations are on social media. In general, anti-vaccine activists are spreading information not approved by scientists and the CDC. 

To combat the spread of false information, we can use social media to raise awareness about the effectiveness of covid vaccines and share what made us get vaccinated. Because the Delta variant poses a pressing concern, those who have not yet become fully vaccinated must do so as soon as possible. This means getting a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna within two weeks of getting the first dose. Completing all vaccinations and following expert safety guidelines are practical tools in dealing with COVID-19. 

Consequently, only 38.7% of Georgia's population has received all their vaccinations, with 8.94 million doses distributed. My experience as an 18-year-old Georgian in a state where anti-vaccinationists are "common" presents some challenges to full immunization. After recently graduating high school, I am aware of how challenging it can be for some to learn in a pandemic situation and how important it is for students/people to get fully immunized to return to regular schooling. It is only through vaccinations and according to safety guidelines that we can help people get back on their feet and make sure that our students do not suffer as a result. That's why I'm asking people from all walks of life to get vaccinated. If we all took responsibility for the community and its students, teachers, health care professionals, and essential workers, the world would be a safer place. 

Vaccinating yourself and others in the community protects you and them. Once fully immunized, regular/fun activities, for instance, eating out, attending concerts, traveling without worrying about restrictions, can be resumed without masks and needing to be as cautious as before the pandemic. Getting completely vaccinated also decreases the risk of coronavirus infection leading to fatality. 

Our efforts to end this pandemic require vaccinating everyone fully and educating people on the importance of vaccination. Coronavirus will not disappear on its own, but by trusting CDC, WHO, FDA, scientists, volunteering at vaccine sites, and doing our part for the community, we can make it easier for people to avoid becoming infected. 

Sources Used: 

cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html

who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines

fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine#:~:text=On%20December%2011%2C%202020,of%20age%20and%20older.